A TOTAL of 43 deaths have been linked to coronavirus in Clackmannanshire.

Data from National Records of Scotland (NRS) shows Covid-19 was mentioned on death certificates 43 times in the area as of Sunday, May 24.

That represents an increase of two coronavirus-linked deaths compared to the previous week – and both those recent deaths occurred in care homes.

Of the total deaths attributed to Covid-19 in Clacks to date, 33 occurred in care homes, nine in hospital, and one at a home or other non-institutional setting.

The first death linked to coronavirus in Clackmannanshire occurred in the week beginning March 23.

From there, the figures for the following weeks (beginning on the dates shown below) were as follows:

• March 30 – 3 deaths

• April 6 - 3 deaths

• April 13 - 4 deaths

• April 20 - 4 deaths

• April 27 - 11 deaths

• May 4 – 9 deaths

• May 11 – 6 deaths

• May 18 – 2 deaths

In Forth Valley, the number of deaths associated with the virus stood at 215 as of May 24, and at 3779 across all of Scotland.

Referring to the figures for Scotland overall, NRS in its latest report said: “46 per cent of Covid-19 deaths registered to date related to deaths in care homes. 47 per cent of deaths were in hospitals and seven per cent of deaths were at home or non-institutional settings.

“Three quarters (76%) of all deaths involving Covid-19 to date were of people aged 75 or over.”

The number of deaths involving Covid-19 mentioned in the National Records of Scotland’s figures is different from the number of deaths published daily on the Scottish Government website.

This is because the latter is based on deaths of those who have tested positive for Covid-19, whereas the NRS data includes all deaths where Covid-19 (included suspected cases) was mentioned on the death certificate.

To access all the data published by NRS, visit nrscotland.gov.uk/covid19stats.